Relifa, an initiative to provide food, medicines and other essential relief supplies in combating the attendant consequences of the restrictions necessitated by the COVID19 pandemic, has distributed palliatives to over 500 vulnerables across the eleven local government areas in Ibadan.
The platform, which was founded by the trio of Kehinde Muraina, Ibrahim Oredola and Sunday Sholanke, leverages on GIS, mobile technology, Instant Messaging and a netwok of ward representatives to identify real vulnerable people and link them to supplies from NGOs and individual donors.
Speaking on how they ensure that those reached are the real vulnerables, one of the founders, Oredola Ibrahim, said, “Our approach is super unique because of our verification model. We identify these vulnerable at the ward level of the state via our volunteers.
“Our volunteers are saddled with the responsibility of identifying the deserving beneficiaries of our essential supplies. As part of our verification model, we obtain GIS location, personal information, audio-visuals on all pre-selected volunteers before they receive these essentials.”
He stressed that so far Relifa had been able to recruit 260 volunteers across the 130 wards in the eleven local government areas in Ibadan.
According to him, the platform had identified 182 vulnerable households and individuals across all LGAs in Ibadan and 75 packs of essential supplies had had distributed in 2 batches to 75 households and individuals across 7 LGAs and this was made possible through monetary donations from NGOs and individuals.
He explained further that since an household comprises an average of 7 people, the platform had provided meals for over 500 vulnerable people as of the 5th of May.
He also noted that the platform had received donations from SkillNG, Siddiqah foundation, Stem Educational Development Foundation, Medwears, and many other amazing individuals in the society.
He then called on organizations, NGOs, and other individuals in the society to partner with them to ensure more vulnerables can be reached.
He added, “We accept cash donations, donation of items like foodstuff, drinks and other essential items inlcuding medicine, face masks and so on. What makes us unique is that we leverage on our volunteers network to deliver directly to the doorsteps of these vulnerable people.
“Thereby ensuring that we respect the social distancing guidelines and also respect the human dignity of the vulnerable people we are reaching with the relief materials. You can visit www.relifa.com.ng to donate to us.”
